Hand-stamp kit with detachable stamp handle



June 18, 1968 r F. A. RAVREBY 3,388,662

HAND-STAMP KIT WITH DETACHABLE STAMP HANDLE Filed Dec. 23, 1964 I 2 Sheets-She'eizl 1 INVENTOR. FIG. l, FRED A, RAVREBY TQRNEL HAND-STAMP KIT WITH DETACHABLE STAMP HANDLE June 18, 1968 F. A. RAVREBY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23.

FIG.

INVENTOR. FRED A. RAVREBY ATTORNEY Unite 3,388,662 HAND-STAMP KIT WITH DETACHABLE STAMP HANDLE Fred A. Ravreby, Frarningham, Mass, assignor to Leonard .1. Gross, Scotch Plains, NJ. Filed Dec. 23, 196 3, Ser. No. 426,695 3 Claims. ((31. 101-405) ABSTRACT @F THE DISCLGSURE This invention relates to a hand-stamp kit, and in particular to novel rack means, stamp handle means, and stamp-carrying plates, as well as the interrelation of these parts.

Hand'stamps have been utilized for many, many years, particularly by persons involved in the sending and receiving of mail. The type of hand-stamp that is in prevalent use today is of ancient vintage and is simply a wooden block having a recess in which a rubber stamp is set, said wooden block having an integral handle attached thereto. This type of stamp, though serving its purpose well in situations where only one or two stamps are employed, results in a significant degree of confusion when several stamps must be used during the day by one or more people. If anyone has every looked for a hand-stamp in a drawer where they are merely thrown together, the problem will be immediately appreciated.

To avoid such confusion, several hand-stamps are placed on various types of racks, one type being a turntable where the stamp handles are inserted in tweezer-like spokes of a rimless wheel. This type of rack, as well as others, are disadvantageous because of the necessary table or desk space they require and/ or the time involved in hunting for the specific hand-stamp that is necessary for the job at hand. Furthermore, a large number of handstamps in conjunction with bulky rack structure adds up to a relatively expensive investment.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a novel hand-stamp kit which substantially avoids the dis advantages of the prior art.

Another object is to provide a novel hand-stamp rack which conveniently stores stamp-carrying plates, so that the stamps can be clearly and easily identified.

Still another object is to provide a novel stamp handle and stamp-carrying plate which cooperate with each other so that the stamp handle can be removed and used for a plurality of plates.

Upon further study of the specification and claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent.

To attain the objects of this invention, there is provided a marking stamp kit comprising rack means, stamp handle means, and a plurality of stamp-carrying plates, said rack means including storage means for said plates. Additionally, the plates contain non-magnetic means for being detachably afiixed to the stamp handle. Also, since the plates are detachable from the stamp handle, the plates, in the stored condition, are detached from any stamp handle, thereby resulting in a neat, space-saving system.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject mat- States Patent Patented June 18, 1968 ter which is regarded as the invention-in the light of the doctrine of equivalence, it is believed that the invention, the objects and features of the invention, and further objects, features, and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of both the hand-stamp and rack of the present invention, the rack being shown with stamp-carrying plates inserted in some of the storage pockets therein.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional end view taken across line 22 of FIGURE 1. This figure also shows the stamp handle stored at the top of the rack and the storage place for the stamp pad (as indicated by broken lines). Additionally, FIGURE 2 shows the motion by which the stamp handle removes the stamp-carrying plate from the rack.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom elevational view of the stamp handle.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional end view of the stamp handle taken along lines 44 of FIGURE 3.

Lastly, FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of the stamp shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, rack comprises a plurality of pockets 11. Each of said pockets comprises a back wall 12 and a front frame 13. The topmost portions of the frame and the wall define an upward opening for receiving the stamp-carrying plates 14.

The front frame of the pocket comprises two vertical legs 15 which, on the one hand, are sufiiciently spaced apart to accommodate the stamp handle but, on the other hand, are sufficiently close so that each leg overlaps the stamp-carrying plate in its stored position. At the bottom of the vertical legs 15 there are bottom portions 16 which project inwardly. These bottom portions are preferably integral with the legs and at right angles thereto, thereby forming an L-shape on the left-hand side, and a mirrorimage of an L-shape on the right-hand side of the pocket. The space between the two horizontal portions of the L- shapes is sufficient to permit the rim of the stamp-carrying plate to protrude therefrom, thus permitting the attachment of the stamp handle to the stored plate. It is also important to note that the horizontal portions of the L-shapes, being adjacent the rim of the stamp-carrying plate, support the plate and facilitate the removal of the stamp handle from the plate.

Aside from the rear wall and front frame of the pocket, there are provided a bottom 17 and two end walls 18.

At the top of rack 10, there is provided means 19 for storing the stamp handle. In the illustrated embodiment, said means comprises a vertical wall 20 having substantially parallel perpendicular flanges 21 and 22. These two flanges form a channel for receiving the stamp handle. The topmost flange contains two slots 23 for receiving the tongues of the stamp handle, thereby providing a secure and convenient storage place.

The rack can be made of any suitable material of construction; however, it is preferred to utilize a nomally solid polymer, preferably, for reasons of economics, a synthetic thermoplastic polymer. Examples of such materials are polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate, etc. On the other hand, it is obvious that metal or wood construction would also be suitable. As illustrated, the rack is generally elongated in the vertical plane and thus can be easily attached to a wall or the like by any conventional fastening means, such as nails, screws, or in view of the light weight of the rack, even by suction feet.

Referring now in detail to the stampcarrying plate 14, it is seen that when the plate is placed in the rack, the identifying indicia face outwardly, thereby giving the user an immediate indication of the particular stamp in each pocket. As a matter of fact, since there is no handle attached to the plate while it is in the stored conditon, the view of the indicia is unobstructed. Because of this advantage, it is possible to print additional instructions on the plate, if desired. Likewise, the stamp-carrying plate would be ideally suited for an educational game or toy whereby various letters or pictures are placed on the indicia side of the stamp-carrying plate. For example, a picture of a cat would appear as indicia, and the stamping element on the opposite side of the plate would comprise a C, thereby giving the child an association of the picture with the letter.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the stamp-carrying plate includes base plate which contains the identifying indicia 36 on one side, and the stamping means on the opposite side. On one end of this base plate, an outwardly extending flange 31 is provided, said flange 'being preferably substantially perpendicular to the base plate and containing two slots 37. therein. The purpose of these slots, which are preferably and advantageously perforate, is to allow the tongues of the stamp handle to pick up the plate. At the opposite end of the base plate containing the perpendicular flange, a rim 33 is provided which preferably does not extend across the complete length of the base plate. This rim is integral with the base plate and provides further means for securing the plate to the stamp handle. Being provided with protrusion 34, the rim protrudes in a wedge-like relationship against the stamp handle when the two are in operative association. It is further to be noted that rim 33 is preferably parallel to the flange 31, and the combination of fthe rim and the flange provides a channel-like access for the stamp handle. This combination of the rim, the flange, and the slots in the flange ensures a secure fit and proper alignment.

On the side of the base plate opposite the identifying indicia, there is provided a cushioning strip of foam rubber 37, and superimposed thereon the stamping element 35.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4, and 5 which show the details of the stamp handle, it is seen that the stamp handle comprises a face plate 40 having tongues 41 protruding from one edge thereof. Associated with the face plate is gripping means 42. This gripping means is inserted into the face plate by means of a snap-fit, and if desired can be conveniently packaged in the hand-stamp kit so that it does not protrude from the rack. The user of the kit will then merely take the loose gripping means and force it into the face plate.

With respect to the materials of construction for the stamp-carrying plate and the stamp handle, it is again preferred to utilize a normally solid polymer, preferably a synthetic thermoplastic material. As a matter of fact, the wedge-fit necessitates the employment of a resilient material, either for the base plate 30 or the face plate, or both. The preferred material for this purpose is polypropylene, but of course other materials having similar physical properties, some of which are undoubtedly not even synthesized as yet, are operable.

In operation, the stamp-carrying plates are stored intheir respective pockets and when the operator wants to use a hand-stamp, he merely withdraws the stamp handle from its storage place and inserts the tongues of the stamp-handle face plate in the desired stamp-carrying plate, while at the same time pushing inwardly to wedge the face plate into contact with the rim of the stampcarrying plate. The hand-stamp is now in its operable form and is merely withdrawn from the rack. Alternatively, the stamp-carrying plate may be lifted out of the rack by the tongues and then wedged into place by downward pressure on a stamp pad or table. It is to be noted in this connection that when the stamp is employed for the first time, the downward force will result in an even tighter wedged relationship between the stamp handle and the stamp-carrying plate.

When the hand-stamp is no longer desired, the operator merely slides the stamp-carrying plate downwardly through the upward opening formed by the rear wall and front frame of the rack, and then pulls outwardly and upwardly to release the rim, the rim bending away from the plate at this time. The stamp hand'ie is then merely lowered away from the rack, thereby withdrawing the prongs or ton ues from the plate. Both the operations of engaging and disengaging the stamp handle with and from the stamp-carrying plate are simple and rapid.

If an even more secure engagement between the stamp handle and the stamp-carrying plate is desired, other expedients will occur to one skilled in the art. For example, auxiliary magnetic elements can be inserted in either or both the stamp-carrying plate and the stamp handle, thus yielding additional means for securing the stamp handle to the stamp-carrying plate. This magnetized form would be, however, more expensive; and, from the standpoint of operation, it would be more difficult to disengage the handle from the plate.

As stated previously, the preferred material of construction for all of the parts of the present invention is a synthetic thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene, and because of the relative ease of fabrication of thermoplastic materials, an inexpensive kit can be produced.

Aside from the economic advantages of this invention, a significant practical advantage result from the integral stamp-handle tongues, thereby eliminating any additional element, such as a key, pin, or screw, which could be very easily mislaid. Still further, an important aspect of the present invention is that it permits a mechanically locked lifting action for withdrawing the stampcarrying plates from the rack. By the cooperation of the stamp-carrying plate slots with the tongues of the stamp handle, the resultant positive lifting action is obviously highly superior to other possible attaching means-such as use of magnetic attraction, per sc. Whereas magnetically attracted elements tend to slide past one another upon the application of lateral forces, such a deleterious sliding action is obviously impossible with the present structure. Consequently, it is apparent that the hand-stamp kit of the pres ent invention is characterized by mechanical locking means for lifting the stamp-carrying plate from the rack.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristic of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. For example, the parts can be reversed, egg. by having the tongues attached to the stamp-carrying plate, and the slots incorporated in the stamp handle means. Consequently, such changes and modifications are properly, equitably, and intended to be, within the full range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hand-stamp kit comprising rack means, a plurality of stamp carrying plates and a stamp handle means;

said stamp handle means including means for being mechanically locked to said plates for release by pivotal movement with respect thereto;

at least one of said plates when in the stored position having no stamp handle means fixed thereto;

said rack means including a plurality of separate pocket means for storing said stamp carrying plates;

said pocket means comprising a rear wall, a front frame,

and means defining an upward opening for receiving said stamp carrying plates;

said front frame having means defining a forward opening of width smaller than the width of said plates for receiving said stamp handle means; whereby when said plates are disposed in said pockets, said front frame provides restraint against pivotal movement thereof to furnish means for release of said stamp handle means when pivoted with respect thereto.

2. A hand-stamp kit as defined in claim 1, further including rim means for wedging said stamp handle means 5 for mechanical locking thereof to said plate, said front frame having vertical legs on left and right sides thereof, said legs having bottom portions projecting inwardly, inner edges of said bottom portions defining a space in said front frame to accommodate said rim means. 5

3. A hand-stamp kit as defined in claim 2, said lefthand vertical leg and bottom portion thereof being L- shaped, and the right-hand vertical leg and bottom portion thereof being a mirror-image L-shape.

References Cited 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,809,195 6/1931 Evans 211-39 2,335,992 12/1943 Biskind 101127.1 X H 2,575,772 11/1951 Schenker 101-368X 6 Tannery 101-405 X Horner 101-333 Reynolds 101406 Russell 101-378 Franke 211-55 Roberts 21139 Hellesoe 101-368 McAneny 101-368 X FOREIGN PATENTS Germany,

3/1964 France.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

I. R. FISHER, Assistant Examiner. 

